Scotch block



s. w. HAYES 1,801,917

SCOTGHBLQCK Apr-i121, 1931.

Original Filed Aug. 8. 1929, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY m ATTORfiYS April 21, 1931. -s. w. HAYES SCOTCH BLOCK Original Filed Aug. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STANLEY W. HAYES, F RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HAYES TRACK APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF RICHMOND, DTDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA SCOTCH BLOCK Application filed August 8, 1929, Serial No. 384,260. Renewed fieptember 20, 1930.

The invention is an improved Scotch block or the like for use on railway tracks, the object being to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of manufacture as well as to improve the strength and efficiency of such devices and more especially to improve the type of Scotch bloc-k disclosed in \Vhilt Patent No. 1,369,910, which is permitted to slide on the rails under severe thrust, and

specifically it relates to pressed steel plates obliquely arranged.

Referring to drawings: Fig. l is a perspective view showing a pair of Scotch blocks in place on the track.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of one of the blocks.

Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line IV-IV, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V V, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a front sectional elevation on the line VI-VI, Fig. 2 but on a still larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a simplified rear sectional eleva- 25 tion on the line VII-VII, Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail vertical section on line VIII-VIII, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 9 a detail horizontal section on the line IXIX Fig. 6.

The main part or body of the new block, in the form which is taken for illustration, is composed of two cheeks or plate members 1 which are reverse duplicates of each other and of such simple shape and contour that they can be formed as stampings out of plate steel, say of thickness. These plates are united in suitable relation and are supported from the rail itself. They extend upward above the rail head in posi- 0 tion where they willbe'struck by the car wheel and they seat on apart of the rail along which the device is permitted to slide, in spite of its clamping means, under the impact of the wheel. In the partlcular embodiment illustrated the plates are secured together at one end and spread divergently apart at the other, forming a tapered structure, the narrow end of which seats directly on the rail head and is shaped to form an arcuate car wheel abutment surface 4 upstandin in the vertical plane of the rail. The wi er end extends downward below the rail head and below the rail base, flanking it on each sidei being there supand transmitted edgewise through them to the saddle or to such abutment means as may be provided. Maximum strength for a given weight of Scotch block is thus obtained. The two plates may be secured to each other by rivets, as shown, with intervening spacer locks 2 and 3 between them, such blocks being tapered or wedge-shaped, both in horizontal and vertical section, as indicated and the rest of the space'between the plates being open or vacant, except for the rail, thus forming what may be termed, a skeleton structure, but of great strength. The convergent ends of the plates, in the illustrated block, come substantially or actually into contact in substantially the center plane of the rail and seat edgewise at 5, on the rail head, and the wheel abutment which they form, though narrower than the rail head is nevertheless found to be adequate, especially if the edges of the plates between the top and bottom rivets are slightly spread or bowed as indicated in Fig. 3. p

The divergent ends of the united plates preferably both extend below the rail base so as to be in position to transmit the thrust horizontally to the face of the tie, and they are supported and also tied 0r cross-connected together by a rail-su ported member which is preferably in the orm of a saddle 6 resting on the rail head with one leg depending on each side into the plane of the ties. The divergent lower ends of the two cheeks fit in thrust sockets in the depending legs of the saddle and in such way that when the plates are secured to the rail the saddle is thereby also secured in position. By this means the shock of impact may be divided and transmitted to the two legs of the saddle and by the latter transmitted to the tie.

For this purpose the saddle is widely flanged, as shown in Fig. 7, to provide a flat abutment face of extended area to engage the face of the tie; this avoids cutting the tie, The height and width of the open space within the saddle 6 is sufiicient to enable it to be set down over and upon a rail of the largest size, for example, a rail 7 high with a head or ball 3 wide with its cross part 7 seating directly on the head of such a rail, but being also adapted to seat similarly on smaller rail heads. Use is made of the interior bracing flanges 8 to narrow the space which receives the rail head, thus roughly centering the rear end of tlieblock. These flanges extend from legs 9 to the cross part 7 of the saddle as shown in Fig. 5 and the legs are long enough so that with any standard rail there will be an adequate area for abutment against the tie. The vertical dimension of the tie-abutting part of the saddle in a given case depends on the height of the rail, which in the usual range is from 4 to 7. In the construction illustrated, the plates 1 have bottom, end and top edge portions engaged to or seated in the saddle legs at 10, 11 and 12 respectively, and inside of the cars 14, 1.5 and 16 so that they are held against spreading as well as against vertical displacement. The detail of these connections will be clear from the drawing. The plates may also be riveted to the legs if desired and as shown, but it will be clear that the form of connection of plates to saddle is susceptible of considerable variation and according to preference.

The Scotch block ordinarily stands 17 above the top of the rail so as to exceed slightly the customary height of-the car wheel axis, and is narrow at its front end. Means for centering the front or abutment end ofthe block on rail heads of difierent widths is a feature of the invention and comprises the application to the plates of movable bloeks or members permanently carried thereby adjacent the rail seat 5 and which can be set or adjusted at the time of installation to change the width of the rail-headreceiving space. Centering blocks, such as identified by 17 (Figs. 6 and 9) have been found to serve this purpose etl'ectively. They are supported on pivots 19 of the brackets 18 on the respective cheek plates, being retained on the pivots by cotters 20. As shown in Fig. 9, the edge faces on each ,block are formed or slabbed at different radial distances from its turning axis, each face being at a distance corresponding to a particular size of rail head and as shown at a, b, c and d. IVhen faces a are turned toward each other the structure accommodates the smallest. size head and when other faces are used, it accommodates and is centered on other sizes of heads. hen in place on the rail, the blocks are held against turning by the rail itself. I have found that in -Scotch blocks of the tie-pushing type it is insufiicient to rely, as does Whilt, on the weight of the car wheel to counter the tendency of the car wheel abutment to jump up from the rail when the wheel hits it and to sustain it against tipping over, skewing or getting out of the central plane of the rail when it is being pushed along, these being difficulties in this type which are specially accentuated where the wheel-abutment face is carried up to the height of the car wheel axle and especially where the abutment face is narrowi} I therefore construct my Scotch block on the principle of providing means for holding it adequately against vertical movement in the plane of the rail and against transverse or lateral movement, while permitting it to slide lengthwise of the rail when required so to do, the block being thus supported while it is sliding.

It is thus true that irrespective of the details of the design and construction of the Scotch block, as illustrated and described herein, my invention consists in applying to the tie-pushing type of Scotch block of whatever structure clamping means which is substantially rigid in a lateralsense, and in the vertical sense, to prevent somersaulting or jumping on car wheel impact, but which nevertheless yields without injury to itself or the rail to motion along the rail. The clamping means is thus non-cramping by which is meant that it is of such character that the thrust of the car wheel does not tenld to tighten the grip of the block on the rai In the illustrated derail the particular means for accomplishing these stated objects is a yoke 0r loop structure which clamps the block upright on the rail and holds it against being knocked over and for this purpose makes use of the flat underside of the rail as the steadying base. In the form chosen for illustration, this securing means comprises an upper cross bar 21, and a straight lower cross bar 22, extending, respectively through the plates and under and against the rail base. The member 21 occupies holes in the cheek plates and is held against endwise displacement therein by a key 23 secured by a rivet 24 or the like; The rest of the yoke comprises the side bolts 25 extending through both cross bars and having heads 26 and nuts 27 received on plane surfaces 28, or in countersinks. The yoke is thus hung or swung from the plate structure and thereby removably clamped to the rail. To enable the block to slide on the rail, pushing the tie ahead of it means are provided to prevent binding 0% the cross bar 22 on the underside of the rail base. Such effect may be accom lished by any means which will cause the ottom cross bar 22 to move in exact unison with the top bar 21, as for example by the eyebar pull-rods 29, through whose eyes 30 the side member bolts 25 of the yoke extend and which have oiiset ends 31 which may be hooked into holes 32 in the respective plates 1. These rods pull the bottom bar along preventing cramping, i. e. self-tightening.

i As respects the non-cramping clamping means, it is immaterial whether the Scotch block has the described structure or not.

In installing the Scotch block, I provide a suitable space, of say about 20 inches, between adjacent ties. After removing the side bolt-s and lower crossbar of the yoke, the block is set on the rail with the rear face of the saddle near or against the rear tie. In order to center the front of the block the eccentric space-blocks are turned on their pivots to provide a rail-receiving space suited to the particular rail. The lower crossbar of the yoke is passed under the rail and connected by the side bolts to the top bar, after the pull rods have been put in place. It is customary to use the blocks in pairs, the members of which are located opposite each other in the track, but are unconnected, each block being supported wholly by its engagement with the rail on which it seats.

The operation will be apparent. The Scotch block, being properly centered and held upright on the rail, stress of car wheel impact on the front ends of the cheek plates is carried in their respective planes to the rear bearing or saddle and by its tie-face abutments to the tie which yields more or less depending on the nature of the ballast and as will be understood.

I claim:

1. A Scotch block comprising a united pair of obliquely related members upstanding from the rail head at one end and extending below the rail base at the other and providing a car wheel abutment.

2. A Scotch block comprising a pair of separately made plate members secured together at one end above the rail head and extending upwardly therefrom in the vertical plane of the rail, the other ends of said members being spaccdapart to flank the rail and one or both being extended into I the plane of the ties.

3. A Scotch block comprising a pair of separately made upstanding plate members secured together at one endto seat by their edge or edges directly on the rail head and having their other ends spread apart to flank the rail and transmit wheel thrust to a tie. 4;. A Scotch block comprising a pair of upstanding plate members having their front ends secured together and overlying the rail head and their rear ends spread laterally, flanking the rail -head, and a memher uniting the lower ends of said members.

5. A Scotch block having a car wheel abutment and comprised essentially of two similar and separately formed members each of which extends integrally from a point above the rail head to a point below the rail base and is there provided with a tie pushing face, means located above the rail for securing the members to each other and means for holding the united members to the rail.

6. A Scotch block comprising two united plates with their front ends overlying the top of the rail and their rear ends flanking the rail, and a rail saddle connecting the rear ends of said plates.

7. A Scotch block comprising two obliquely related plates, their convergent ends being located above and in the plane of the rail and their divergent ends being extended below the rail head and means connecting said divergent ends.- i

8. A Scotch block comprising two united .the plates including a straight bar engaging the rail bottom to hold the plates upright.

10. A Scotch block provided with a yoke hung from the block and extending under the rail and means for maintaining the yoke in fixed relation to the block to avoid binding on the rail when the block slides under car wheel impact.

11. A Scotch block comprising two ob liquely related plates secured together, at their convergent ends with interposed spacers therebetween and providing space between their other ends to accommodate the rail head. i

12. A Scotch block comprising two plates' seats at each side of the rail and below the base thereof for the lower rear ends of said plates, and providing extended area therefor for abutment against a tie. I i

13. A Scotch block adapted to seat on and straddle the rail and to slide thereon and having a-car wheel abutment supported above the rail and, at each side of the rail, having structure depending below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties provided with a non-cutting tie-face-abutment.

14. A Scotch block of skeleton structure having longitudinal cheek plates secured together with interposed space blocks at their front and top and having an interposed cross-connecting support at their rear.

5 15. A Scotch block asset forth in claim 12 in which the space blocks are forwardly tapered, and in which the plates diverge outward and rearward.

16. A Scotch block as set forth in claim 12 in which the space blocks are forwardlyand upwardly tapered, and in which the' plates diverge downward, outward and rearward.

17. A Scotch block formed of united plates having their edges shaped to form a car wheelabutinent, said plates being so cured together at the top and bottom of 1 the car wheel abutment and spread apart between such points of attachment. 18. A Scotch block comprising cheek plates secured together at their front ends .which constitute a car wheel abutment and are adapted to seat on the rail head, being of less width than the rail head and diverging outward as they extend rearward to straddle the rail, means to center said abutment crosswiseof the rail head, and a crossconnecting member secured between the divergent rear ends of said plates and adapted to seat on the rail head.

19. In a Scotch block, supporting means therefor of inverted U-shape having depending legs each provided with cheek plate receiving and seating means.

20. A Scotch block adapted to seat on the rail and having a car wheel abutment narrower than the head of the rail, and adjustable means to center the abutment end of the block on the rail head.

21. In a Scotch block or like device having a car wheel abutment and adapted to seat on the rail with said abutment above the rail in the plane of the rail, a pair of eecen trically pivoted blocks located respectively on opposite sides of the rail and means for securing the block to the rail.-

In a Scotch block adapted to seat and slide on the rail, means movably mounted on the Scotch block for embracing the rail to maintain the Scotch block upright thereon including devices for securing said means a ainst binding on the underside of the rall base on movement of the Scotch block along the rail under car wheel impact.

23. A Scotch block comprising a structure seated on the rail tread surface at one end and flanking the rail at its other end and a rail saddle supporting the latter end.

v 24. A Scotch block comprising a structure seated on the rail at one end and flanking it at the other, a saddle supporting the latter -..end and means for securing said structure to the rail, said structure serving to secure the saddle on the rail.

25.- A Scotch block comprising a tapered structure, seated by its thinner end on the top of the rail head and by its wider end upon a saddle straddling the rail, and means for securing said structure and saddle to the rail.

26. A Scotch block adapted to straddle and slide on the rail under severe car wheel thrust and comprising a structure having at its forward end a car wheel abutment and having its point of greatest elevation at that end and extended at its rearward portion below the rail base to engage a tie, in combination with means independent of the car wheel and non-cramping under sliding movement to sustain the. structure against lateral displacement from the rail and to prevent or limit upward displacement of said abutment.

27. A Scotch block structure adapted to straddle the rail and to slide thereon under severe car wheel thrust and having a car wheel abutment at its forward end and having its point of greatest elevation at the end engaged by the car wheel and its lowest point at the opposite end in position to engage a tie. in combination with means independent of the car wheel and non-cramping under the sliding movement for preventing or limiting upward displacement of the car wheel abutment.

28. In a Scotch block or like device adapted to seat on the rail and having a space to receive the head of the rail, means movably carried by the block to vary the width of said rail-receiving space, and independent means to secure the Scotch block to the rail.

29. A Scotch block seating on the rail, having a car wheel stop abutment upstanding from the rail substantially to the level of the car wheel axis, and having abutment members straddling the rail and extending down at each side of the rail below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties so as to strike the tie on car wheel impact and move it rearward against the resistance of the ballast thus dissipating the shock, and noncramping means for maintaining the Scotch block upright.

30. A Scotch block seating on the rail and adapted to slide thereon under'severe car wheel impact, having a car wheel stop abutment upstanding from the rail substantially to the level of the car wheel axis, and having abutment members extending down at each side of the rail below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties so as to strike the tie "on car wheel impact and move it rearward against the resistance of the ballast, thus dissipating the shock, and means independent of the car wheel and non-cramping under sliding movement for controlling the tendency of the block to rise off the rail on initial car wheel impact and for sustaining it against lateral displacement.

31. A Scotch block straddling the rail and having a car wheel-stop abutment in the plane of the rail upstanding substantially to the level of the car wheel-axis, said block being mounted to slide on the rail as a guide under severe car wheel impact and having means extending rigidly from the abutment into the plane of the ties for contact with a tie and ballast to deliver wheel shock thereto, said Scotch block including means indeendent of the car wheel and non-cramping under the sliding movement for controlling its tendency to rise off the rail on initial car wheel impact and for maintaining itself upright in the plane of the rail as it slides thereon under such impact.

32. A Scotch block adapted to straddle the rail and having a car wheel-stop abutment in the plane of the rail upstanding substantially to the level of the car wheel-axis, said block being mounted to slide on the rail as a guide under severe carwheel impact and having rigid extensions of the abutment into the plane of the ties for contact with a tie and ballast to deliver wheel thrust thereto, and means to maintain itself upright on the rail and control its tendency to rise off the rail on initial car wheel impact, said means extending under parts of the rail and being adjustable to suit rails of different heights.

33. A Scotch block of the type applicable to the rail without drilling it seating on the rail and having a car wheel stop abutment maintained in the plane of the rail, said abutment extending down integrally below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties to deliver shock of impact to the tie and ballast and being provided with noncramping means coacting with the rail to enable the block to slide thereon as a guide under severe car wheel impact and extending under rail surfaces to cooperate therewith for controlling the tendency of the block to rise off the rail on initial car wheel impact.

34. A Scotch block of the type applicable toa rail without drilling it, adjustable to rails of difierent weights and mounted on a rail to slide under severe car wheel impact, said block having a car wheel stop abutment, tie face abutments supported from the block below the base of the rail in the plane of the ties to deliver shock of car wheel impact to the tie and ballast, and adjustable means for maintaining the block upright in the plane of the rail and controlling its tendency to rise oil the rail on initial car wheel impact, said means passing under the rail base and provided with tightening nuts on both sides of the rail.

35. A Scotch block adapted to seat on and straddle the rail and slide thereon under severe car wheel impact and having a car wheel abutment supported above the rail and, at each side of the rail, having rigid structure depending below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties, and noncramping means independent of the car wheel for engaging beneath portions of the rail for controlling the tendency of the block to rise otf the rail on initial car wheel impact and for maintaining it upright on the rail in the plane of'the rail as it slides thereon under such impact.

36. A Scotch block of the type adapted to be applied to the rail without drilling it, mounted on the rail with freedom to slide thereon under severe car wheel impact, having a car wheel abutment upstanding above the rail head to substantially the level of the car wheel axis and having at the rear of the block rigid downward extensions below the base of the, rail into the plane of the ties at each side of the rail and provided with laterally extended flange surfaces for contact with the roadbed, and means at its forward end extending under rail parts and adapted to coact therewith to hold down that end of the block.

37. A Scotch block of the type adapted to be applied to the rail without drilling it having upstanding car wheel abutment structure in the plane of the rail and adapted to seat on the rail and to slide thereon under severe car wheel impact and having vertically adjustable non-cramping means extending under the rail base and embracing the rail to maintain said structure upright thereon under car wheel impact.

38. A'Scotch block applicable to rails of various weights without drilling them and having .car wheel abutment structure in the plane of the rail and adapted to seat and slide thereon and having openable loop means adjustable to the particular rail sec-" tion extending under and embracing the rail to clamp the block thereto and maintain said structure upright thereon.

39. A Scotch block having car wheel abutment structure upstanding in the plane of the rail substantially to the level of the car wheel axis and adapted to seat and slide on the rail and having openable loop means extending under and embracing the rail to maintainsaid structure upright thereon.

40. A Scotch block comprising a tapered structure, seated by its thinner end on top of the rail and by its wider end upon a saddle straddling the rail, means for securing said structure a'nd saddle to the rail, and adjustable means for centering the thinner end on the rail head.

41. A Scotch block" comprising cheek.

crosswise of the rail head.

42. A Scotch block of the type applicable to a rail without di'illing it comprising two united plates adapted to seat on edge on the rail and forming by their proximate edges an abutment to receive a car wheel, and means independent of the car wheel tor eugaging beneath portions of the rail for controlling the tendency of the block to rise off the rail on initial car wheel impact and for maintaining it upright on the rail in the plane of the rail as it slides thereon under such impact, said block having extension.

into the plane of the ties to deliver shock of impact to the tie and ballast.

43. A Scotch block seating on the rail with freedom to slide thereon under severe car wheel impact, having a car wheel abutment in the plane of the rail and extending down at each side of the rail below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties, and provided with non-cramping clamping means for holding it upright on and to the rail.

4.4. A Scotchblock or like device of the carried by the block to vary the width of said railhead-receiving space, means rigidly projecting from the block into the plane of the ties to transmitshock of impact to the'tie and ballast, and means to clamp the block on the rail in upright position.

46. A Scotch block adapted to seat on and straddle the rail and slide thereon under carwheel impact and having a car-wheel abutment upstanding above the rail head to approximately the level of the wheel axle, and at each side of the rail having rigid structure depending below the rail base into pushing relation to a tie, and means engag ing downwardly'facing portions of the rail for holding the block so that it does not jump away from the rail on initial car wheel impact and for'maintaining it rigidlynpright on the rail and in the vertical plane thereof, said means permitting the block to slide along the rail under such impact, said block being supported wholly by its engage mentwith its said rail.

47. A Scotch block of the type applicable to the rail without drilling it adapted to seat on and straddle the rail and independent of any Scotch block structure on the other rail and comprising two united plate members seating on edge on the rail head, upstanding above the rail in the plane of the rail substantially to the car wheel axis,

and presenting car wheel abutment means and extending downward at each side of the rail into the plane of the ties to deliver stress of car wheel impact to the tie and ballast, said block having means engaging under portions of its respective rail to hold the block upright on the rail and sustain it against lateral displacement as it slides on the rail under car wheel impact, and being wholly supported by its engagement with its ownrail. I

48. A Scotch block comprising two united obliquely related plates seating on the rail, upstanding therefrom having converging front ends located above and in the plane of the rail and presenting car wheel abutment means and divergent portions ex tended below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties to deliver stress of car wheel impact to the tie and ballast.

49. A Scotch block adapted to seat on and straddle the rail and to slide thereon and having 21 car wheel abutment supported above the rail and, at each side of the rail, having structure depending below the base of the rail into the plane of the ties provided with a transverse flange face producing extended area for contact with a tie face and ballast, and non-cramping clamping means for engaging beneath portions of the rail to hold the block on the rail and sustain it against lateral displacement as it slides on the rail under car wheel impact.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

' STANLEY TV. HAYES.

iao 

